Gender Balance Index 2018

The annual Gender Balance Index tracks the presence of men and women in senior positions of public financial institutions globally, weighted by seniority. The 2018 edition of the Gender Balance Index expands the analysis to sovereign funds and public pension funds. Follow the link below to download the report.

The March Bulletin

Diversity in the workforce, particularly gaps in women’s presence and pay levels at the higher echelons of organisations, is a subject of growing importance around the world. Tackling the gender agenda requires, among many other things, promoting female role models to inspire young women, enlarging the pool of talent from which organisations can benefit.

Political risk series

The world continues to feel tremors of political uncertainty as leaders in major nations announce new and occasionally unsettling policies. Following a turbulent two years of elections and changing leadership, OMFIF's ‘Focus on political risk’ series provides analysis of developments in response to geopolitical events. Sign up to receive weekly material including articles, meetings and podcasts.

Italian elections

Riccardo Barbieri, chief economist at the Italian Treasury, and Erik Jones, professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University, join Sofia Melis from OMFIF. They discuss the Italian general election on 4 March and potential markets reactions, as well as the country’s relationship with the EU and Italy’s role in the future of Europe.

Meetings in Asia

OMFIF convenes meetings with high-ranking members of Asian public and private financial institutions, including central banks, sovereign funds and asset managers. These meetings focus on the rising economic power in the region and encourage the exchange of best business practices across the public and private sectors.

News And Commentary

EU risk in Visegrád group

If trends continue in the Visegrád group – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, all members of the EU since 2004 – the region will enjoy positive economic developments. At the same time, the V4 are disassociating themselves from many of the policies supported by 'old' EU members, writes Miroslav Singer.

Civilised way to talk down euro

ECB President Mario Draghi has criticised US attempts to depreciate the dollar as infringing international agreements, writes David Marsh. In turn, he has tried hard to couch his unease over the euro's rise in a civilised way using oblique language that cannot be construed as euro-weakening verbal intervention.

'City of London could help the EU'

'The EU should stand strong, remain attractive and open to the rest of the world – the City of London could help us to achieve that aim,' said Robert Ophèle, chair of the Autorité des marchés financiers, France's stock market regulator, at an OMFIF City Lecture in London on current challenges for financial regulation.

Completing Europe's monetary union

The new German government may propose the establishment of a European Monetary Fund, a critical missing piece in monetary union, writes Ousmène Mandeng. In the light of the unfavourable Italian election outcome, an EMF would signal that the euro area is willing to do what it takes to strengthen confidence.

'An excellent and sobering book'

'Six Days in September' is an excellent and authoritative book on an episode in the UK's relationship with the EU that resonates strongly today in the context of Brexit. It is also a sobering book in that, amid fast-moving events, there is a story of policy failure and an unimaginable loss of UK reserves.

'Can we avoid the next crash?'

David Marsh, OMFIF chairman, speaking at the Keele World Affairs lecture series on 25 January on 'Global Finance: Can We Avoid the Next Crash?', said Franco-German discord over the leadership of the European Central Bank could be a potent trigger for an international financial fracas.

Sclerotic productivity hobbles Italy

In the last 10 years, Italy experienced a triple-dip recession and its sclerotic productivity performance contributed to persistent economic vulnerabilities. The recent election does not hold out the prospect of a stable government committed to reform in the euro area's third-largest member, warns Desmond Lachman.

Italian limbo 'obscures economic risk'

In the short term, the outcome of the Italian election is immaterial, as there will probably be no policy developments for many months in the light of contentious coalition negotiations. However, the markets' benign reaction ignores the medium- and long-term risks of an Italian economic breakdown, writes Elliot Hentov.

Launch of the 2018 Gender Balance Index

OMFIF published the Gender Balance Index 2018, which tracks the presence of men and women among senior staff at central banks, public pension funds and sovereign funds. The launch included a keynote presentation and panel discussion focused on the findings of OMFIF's research and the importance of female representation in decision-making roles in global public investment institutions.

Investment Clock: Bull market has further to run

The world is experiencing one of the longest economic expansions since records began and there's no end in sight, with muted inflationary pressures keeping interest rates low. Stock markets like this not too hot, not too cold 'Goldilocks' backdrop.

Global infrastructure finance falls

Global infrastructure financing has fallen short of its potential.Private sector investment and institutional investor capital are often raised as possible solutions for filling the infrastructure funding gap.

Regulatory freedom brings prosperity

Productivity and economic growth continue to disappoint in most countries. Although analysts show a great deal of concern for the so-called 'productivity puzzle', little attention is paid to the real solution: freer markets and increased competition.

Investment Clock: Bull markets don't die of old age

Stock prices have been rising for more than eight years, but bull markets don't die of old age. There are few signs of the excessive growth, valuation or financial leverage that usually signal the approach of a bear market. With interest rates below inflation, it is unsurprising that money continues to flow into markets.